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1 – 10 of 50Yoann Bazin and Virginie Martin
Studies on cosmopolites often focus on expatriates or entrepreneurs. Although intentional cosmopolites do exist, and surely represent an important part of those individuals who…
Abstract
Purpose
Studies on cosmopolites often focus on expatriates or entrepreneurs. Although intentional cosmopolites do exist, and surely represent an important part of those individuals who define themselves as citizens of the world, the author suggests that a les-explored and darker variant also exists: reluctant cosmopolites.
Design/methodology/approach
The author reviews Olivier Geai’s book “La parole est aux migrants”, which presents first-person narratives of migrants from their childhoods to the point of their intentions of migrating, their journeys and their arrivals in France. Following the established logic of reviews in the society and business review, the author will place this book in tension with the academic literature on cosmopolitanism, mostly through the excellent “The Cosmopolitan Ideal” edited by Sybille de la Rosa and Darren O’Byrne.
Findings
Exploring cosmopolitanism through the perspective of reluctant cosmopolites leads to understanding the phenomenon as a process (cosmopolitanization) rather than a state, and to engage with the idea of cities of refuge.
Originality/value
Developing the notion of cities of refuge, which are not utopias or ideals – but revolutionary – radical inspirations to rethink a world that cannot be constructed tomorrow based on the yesterday’s blueprints.
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The study aimed at assessing whether diffusion theory may be applicable to explain the increasing trends in consumption of table wine in Norway over a four-decade period. Data…
Abstract
The study aimed at assessing whether diffusion theory may be applicable to explain the increasing trends in consumption of table wine in Norway over a four-decade period. Data comprised a series of eight cross-sectional surveys from 1962 to 1999 in national samples of adults. The results indicated that diffusion theory might in part be applicable to explain the trends in wine consumption in Norway. Thus, early adopters were characterized by high social status and being more “cosmopolite”. Yet, the typical S-shaped curve for adoption rate was not found, nor the expected association between wine consumption and social network.
This paper aims to identify the diffusion patterns, especially the communication channels, in the diffusion and adoption of research data management services (RDMS) among…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify the diffusion patterns, especially the communication channels, in the diffusion and adoption of research data management services (RDMS) among libraries.
Design/methodology/approach
Literature about the RDMS in individual libraries was gathered and analyzed. Data relevant to the research questions were extracted and analyzed.
Findings
Early adopters conduct much original research to create RDMS and they often serve as change agents in diffusing their RDMS and related innovations to other libraries. In contrast, late adopters usually learn from early adopters and use their innovations for establishing their own RDMS. Communication channels used in diffusing RDMS deviate slightly from those reported in general diffusion of innovations (DOI) theories.
Research limitations/implications
Gathered literature provides incomplete and uneven information for RDMS adopters. This makes it difficult to identify adopter categories and test many generalizations in DOI theories. To overcome these limitations, surveys and interviews will be conducted in the future.
Originality/value
Findings from this project contribute to general DOI theories because RDMS is unique compared with many other innovations. The diffusion of RDMS is a decentralized process that involves a high-degree of reinvention and it involves the generation and diffusion of many relevant innovations. The project also identified scholarly communication and inter-organization networks as new types of communication channels that are not well accounted for in existing DOI theories.
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Karlheinz Kautz and Even Åby Larsen
This article analyzes a European‐wide dissemination project which aimed at spreading quality management and software process improvement approaches among organizations in the IT…
Abstract
This article analyzes a European‐wide dissemination project which aimed at spreading quality management and software process improvement approaches among organizations in the IT sector and beyond to organizations which produce software as part of their primary product. The research presented investigates to what extent that mission has been accomplished and what lessons can be learned for similar actions in the future. For the analysis Rogers’ well‐known model of the diffusion of innovations is used. A secondary outcome of the study therefore is an appraisal of the suitability of the model to plan and perform large‐scale diffusion actions.
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Robert J. Nash and Vanessa S. Eugenio
In this chapter on “Teaching About Religious and Spiritual Difference in a Global Society,” Robert J. Nash and Vanessa Santos Eugenio present a broad religio-spiritual overview of…
Abstract
In this chapter on “Teaching About Religious and Spiritual Difference in a Global Society,” Robert J. Nash and Vanessa Santos Eugenio present a broad religio-spiritual overview of the world, complete with current statistics of religious affiliation across all countries, ethnicities, cultures, and races. The authors’ claim is that a well-developed religio-spiritual literacy in each person is necessary in order to be a productive, pluralistic member of an interdependent global community. In order to become increasingly pluralistic in our worldviews, we must look at how educators at all levels of schooling facilitate conversations about religion. We must learn how to become “cosmopolites” – citizens of the world who are not only genuine sociocultural pluralists, but who are also literate, and understanding, regarding the core religio-spiritual differences that often divide, rather than unite, people. In their concluding section, the authors summarize their personal educational beliefs through two letters written to teachers. These letters provide a number of practical tips and tools for teaching about religion and spirituality in classrooms at all levels of education.
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Ibtissem Hallal and Tayeb Sahnoune
This study aims to identify the challenges of new urban housing zones in Algeria that have permitted the emergence of many habitat neighbourhoods deprived of all services. The…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify the challenges of new urban housing zones in Algeria that have permitted the emergence of many habitat neighbourhoods deprived of all services. The objective is to promote social interaction by departing from the zoning and introducing the notion of urban mix.
Design/methodology/approach
This study tries to catch different elements that contribute to promote the degree of social interaction. This step ultimately has led to the need to improve the quality conditions of the living environment and focus the analysis on urban mix advantages. The latter aims to organize space by balancing functional, social and spatial magnitudes. Different methods have been adopted to assess each dimension. Starting with the assessment of the functional mix, the functional mix coefficient (C.Mix f) was calculated in a quantitative approach, and attendance rates of various targeted functions were determined in a second qualitative one. However, regarding the social mix, several evaluation criteria were selected. Finally, the spatial mix was evaluated via three modes of occupation; mix on the islet, mix on the parcel and mix on the building.
Findings
The results of this research confirm that urban mix is imperative to counteract problems generated by zoning. It also concludes that urban mix can be assessed through a grid of indicators. The case study of Ayouf-Jijel revealed that it benefits from good coverage of amenities and businesses; the authors also found that most indicators present some qualitative rather than quantitative deficiencies. This concerns the location of businesses in collective and individual housing. This phenomenon is scattered in the neighbourhood’s development.
Originality/value
The objective of this paper is to contribute to the argument on how to develop neighbourhoods in a city in general and particular to the city of Jijel through the urban mix by taking into account several indicators under three measurements: functional, social and spatial. In addition, the paper contributes to discuss new methods for the evaluation and implementation of urban mix. Finally, this paper reveals an opportunity to rethink neighbourhoods regarding new approaches and reflections of cosmopolite development versus zoning.
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Introduction Technological innovation is a subject of increasing importance in industrial life. There is a general feeling in Britain, that our relatively poor industrial…
Abstract
Introduction Technological innovation is a subject of increasing importance in industrial life. There is a general feeling in Britain, that our relatively poor industrial performance compared with countries such as the United States, Japan and West Germany is because they are more advanced in adopting new technology. It is vitally important, in a situation changing as rapidly as at present, for organisations to keep abreast or even ahead of technological developments and to adopt innovations successfully. This article attempts to inter‐relate the findings of researchers who have examined the process of diffusion of innovations, in the hope that an increased understanding of this process will assist in the spread of new technology.
Kenneth Simmonds and Helen Smith
Surveys nine relatively new exporters with a view to defining their motivation and characteristics in relation to their first export orders. Suggests that the characteristics of…
Abstract
Surveys nine relatively new exporters with a view to defining their motivation and characteristics in relation to their first export orders. Suggests that the characteristics of these innovators/initiators of exporting are similar to those of innovators in other situations. Reveals that those who are likely to start exporting are those who have little loyalty to the UK marketing area. Underlines the importance of change agents in initiating the innovation.
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The author of this paper was concerned in predicting the retail structure of accessories in the motor trade. In this research the fundamental importance of innovations was…
Abstract
The author of this paper was concerned in predicting the retail structure of accessories in the motor trade. In this research the fundamental importance of innovations was recognised and a discussion of the relevant theory is given in the first part of the paper. In the context of adoption of motor accessory shops by garages a theory of innovations in retailing is developed together with an example of its application in practice. It is further suggested that the content of this paper may assist in the development and refinement of institutional change in retailing and possibly in commerce as a whole.